Holiday apartment in Svečina: Vineyards, trails and culture

Svečina is a Styrian wine-growing village nestled among the vineyards of the gently rolling landscape of the Slovenske gorice. Between wine cellars, historic buildings, marked trails and rural farm offerings, the village combines Slovenian wine tradition with a varied cultural landscape.

Landscape and wine

Among the quality wines produced in Svečina, the white grape varieties Welschriesling and Laški rizling, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Yellow Muscat and Traminer predominate. The wine-growing landscape extends beyond the village: In nearby Špičnik, a road surrounded by vineyards appears from the viewpoint below the equestrian statue of Saint George as a “heart between the vineyards”. This view can be seen from the courtyard of the Dreisiebner excursion farm.

Culture and history

The parish church of St. Andrew in Svečina was first mentioned in documentary records in 1195 and acquired its present appearance between 1652 and 1657. Its furnishings include an oval pulpit with a curved canopy and two bronze bells dating from 1518 and 1877.

Svečina Castle has preserved its Renaissance architectural form to this day; its complex also includes a castle building and a forge. The castle also features a plaque with a building inscription from 1629. The exhibitions listed at the castle include a presentation of the Svečina wine queens and the clothing of the Maribor wine queens from Svečina, an embroidery exhibition and a painting exhibition. The exhibition “Treasures from the Attic” is also mentioned.

The Pot prijateljstva in kulture trail also passes through Svečina and over the renovated village square of the more than 800-year-old village.

Active pursuits

Vinotour is an international Nordic walking trail through the vineyards, created through close cooperation between the Svečina Tourist Association and the Austrian municipality of Ratsch an der Weinstraße. The Vinotour trails pass through the farms of more than 100 Slovenian and Austrian wine-growing businesses and comprise more than 80 kilometres of marked trails. The trail network consists of five circular routes. Yellow markings and bottle-shaped trail signs identify the routes; the colours of the stickers on the signs correspond to the names of the individual trails.

For cycling, there is the Kolesarska pot kungoških vinorodnih gričev. It leads from Zgornja Kungota via Svečina, Špičnik and Jurij back to Zgornja Kungota. The route runs mainly along paved local roads and well-maintained gravel paths and, because of its hilly course, is particularly suitable for recreational cyclists.

Wine, regional cuisine and farms

Vinogradništvo Peter Jamšek organises wine tastings at the Grajska klet in Svečina for groups of 20 to 30 people by prior arrangement. Vino Valdhuber welcomes visitors for wine tastings in a specially designed room overlooking the picturesque wine-growing landscape and Svečina Castle.

The wine cellar of Wine Falot in Svečina is open to visitors. There, they can enjoy wine tastings and learn the story behind the wine. Vino Jamnik offers guided tours of the wine cellar and wine tastings in a designated room.

The Vinogradniški muzej Kebl presents an old winegrower's cottage with simple historic furnishings, a large old wine press, old tools and occasional exhibitions. In front of the cottage, visitors can drink Svečina wine or juice.

At tourist farms and in wine taverns in Svečina, visitors can sample homemade cold cuts, farmhouse bread, Gibanica and apple strudel. Many places also offer hot meals and accommodation.

Festivals and village life

The Kmečki praznik in Svečina has been held for 40 years and combines a varied selection of market stalls with socialising.

Other village pages

Other village pages: Zgornja Kungota, Selnica ob Muri, Pesnica pri Mariboru, Pesnica, Jareninski Dol, Dolnja Počehova.

To the overarching travel overview: Pesnica.